Thursday, February 26, 2009

What Version Do I Get?

The new trend for releasing big albums, is to offer the consumer everything under the sun. The latest example of this is the new U2 album, "No Line On The Horizon". The album will be released on March 3 and there are no less than six different ways to own the album.

* Digital Download version of the album

* Regular Compact Disc version of the album

* Limited Edition Digipak version which includes the CD, a poster and a download of a new film by Anton Corbijn featuring the music of U2

* Limited Edition Magazine version which includes the CD, a 60 page soft cover magazine-style book and a download of a new film by Anton Corbijn featuring the music of U2

* 2LP Vinyl version of the album

* Limited Edition Box Set includes the CD, a poster, a 60 page hard cover book and a DVD of a new film by Anton Corbijn featuring the music of U2

U2 are not the first to offer different packages of the same album. Last year's Nine Inch Nails album, "Ghosts I-IV", was available as a digital download, CD, CD & Book and limited edition box set featuring an autographed CD & Book. On March 24, Pearl Jam will be the next group to offer up to 5 different ways to own their latest release. This way, casual fans can just get the CD, while "die hard" fans can get the deluxe editions that have everything that their favorite band has to offer. The only problem is the expensive price tags that some of these deluxe editions carry.

With the steady decline in CD sales, bands are becoming more creative in getting the music out to their fans. Whether it's by offering free downloads, deluxe CDs, vinyl or through video games and television, groups are becoming more active with the distribution of their music and I for one applaud that. But, with tough economic times, I don't expect too many people to fork over $100 for music on a consistent basis.